Radio Birdman formed in 1974 and began recording in 1976 when the single Burn My Eye was released. They took their name from a misheard lyric in The Stooges song, 1970. (The actual line is "Radio burnin'") Their first LP, "Radios Appear" showed diverse influences, including Blue Öyster Cult and Detroit bands of the late 1960s, such as The MC5 and The Stooges. The album was totally ignored by commercial radio but was championed by Sydney station 2JJ (Double Jay) and became sufficiently successful in Australia to lead to a contract with Sire Records (US label, home of The Ramones), who released a different version of Radios Appear internationally. It took three years to record a follow-up, Living Eyes, and by then, the Australian punk scene had diversified and the band broke up before the LP was released in 1978.
The band's lyrics reference US-born guitarist/main songwriter Deniz Tek's home state of Michigan, with lyrics from tracks such as "Murder City Nights" referring to Woodward Avenue in Detroit:
"Cruising down Woodward gotta find me some action/Looking for a lover with a power reaction."
Many of their other songs, such as "Hand Of Law" & "Descent Into The Maelstrom" deal in apocalyptic images of war and violence, but these are more than balanced by the lighter pop culture references of tunes such as "Aloha Steve & Danno", an ode to the TV show Hawaii 5-0. "Man With Golden Helmet" (which Tek wrote in high school) is one of their most cryptic efforts: "Man with golden helmet/drinks water from the faucet..plays with tiny children/on his way home from work...he's a top man/in the language department". Deniz Tek wrote most of the lyrics and music for the band
All members went on to other bands. Younger's New Christs would be more oriented towards hard-edged, blues-based rock and roll. Tek and Keeley and keyboardist Pip Hoyle's band, The Visitors, and guitarist Chris Masuak and bass guitarist Warwick Gilbert's The Hitmen continued the Radio Birdman sound. Tek, Younger & Gilbert played in a one-shot touring band called New Race, with Dennis Thompson of the MC5 & Ron Asheton of the Stooges.
In the 1996, the band reformed sporadically to play gigs, but a full-fledged reunion didn't surface until the 00's, with the 2006 album Zeno Beach being enthusiastically received. The band split once again in 2008.
In 2014, the band announced that Younger, Tek, Hoyle and Dickson announced that they would tour Australia as Radio Birdman to coincide with the reissue of their back catalogue.
Non-stop girls
Radio Birdman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll never make it back to the USA
50 million horsepower J-84
Slammed my head through a one-way door
Oh no I can't use non-stop girls
Oh no I just can't use you
Cos all my love is gone
Oh no I can't use non-stop girls
Non-stop girls
Flashing in our lives
Non-stop girls
Burning in our minds
Non-stop girls
You just can't be beat
Bleeding heart
In a window seat
The song "Non-Stop Girls" by Radio Birdman, a punk rock band from Australia, is about the struggle of being unable to connect with women despite their endless attention. The song starts with lines Seven Four, taking me away I'll never make it back to the USA followed by 50 million horsepower J-84, Slammed my head through a one-way door. The opening lines suggest that the singer is leaving the USA for a trip to a foreign land where he encounters the Non-Stop Girls.
The Non-Stop Girls represent an endless stream of women who are drawn to the singer. However, the lyrics suggest that the singer cannot use them because all his love is gone to another world. The chorus goes Oh no, I can't use non-stop girls; Oh no, I just can't use you, Cos all my love is gone to another world; Oh no, I can't use non-stop girls. The singer is unable to use the attention of these women even though they are trying to fill a void after his heart has been broken.
Moreover, the words non-stop girls are repeated throughout the song, suggesting that they are symbolical of a hedonic lifestyle full of fleeting pleasures. It's worth noting that the song is considered an anti-groupie anthem, and it conveys a message that a rockstar lifestyle full of meaningless flings is not fulfilling. Overall, the song Non-Stop Girls is a warning against a life full of fleeting pleasures, which cannot fill the void left by a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven Four, taking me away
Boarding a Boeing 747 airplane to fly away to another location.
I'll never make it back to the USA
Acknowledging the fact that he will not return to the United States.
50 million horsepower J-84
Refers to a powerful engine or piece of machinery.
Slammed my head through a one-way door
A metaphorical statement to describe a sudden immersive experience that doesn't allow for a return.
Oh no I can't use non-stop girls
Expressing a regretful decision to not use or take advantage of the attention of women who are always available.
Oh no I just can't use you
Explicitly stating that he is not interested in using someone.
Cos all my love is gone to another world
Referring to the fact that he has given his love to someone else who is beyond reach.
Oh no I can't use non-stop girls
Repeating the previous chorus to emphasize the decision to not engage with non-stop girls.
Non-stop girls
Refers to women who are always available and have a busy lifestyle that never stops.
Flashing in our lives
Describing the impact of non-stop girls on our lives, whether it be positive or negative.
Burning in our minds
Suggesting that the memory of non-stop girls is something that cannot be forgotten.
Non-stop girls
Reiterating the theme of women who always have busy lives and are always around.
You just can't be beat
A way of saying that non-stop girls are unbeatable in terms of their lifestyle.
Bleeding heart
A metaphorical statement to suggest a sentimental and vulnerable state of mind.
In a window seat
Specifies a location in which the bleeding heart is residing, likely on a plane or in a car.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENIZ TEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Derek Vaillant
Awesome! I'm proud that my obscure college band covered (wretchedly) this kick sass song in the 80s. Thank you for the inspired energy.
BananaJSSI
Great tune!
fa oh
The best sound !
Natas Corpus
caught them in perth last night..... amazing....
torpeligneB
Une vraie tuerie ce morceau !! Quelle patate !! Indécrottable !!!
Natas Corpus
one of my favourite!
Ganges Excavating
@BananaJSSI more gems of radio nugget gold that only seem to spring up on Sirius radio. This one was heard at 4:13am Tuesday,Dec 6/10 on Kim Fowley's radio show on Little Steven's Underground Garage.
StationDead96
My favourite hook
Juan Simón
@ferret630 good times
Bastyy
I don't get it. what do they mean with "I can't use non-stop girls"